RSG Restates Commitment Towards Combating Cancer

Rivers State Government has restated its commitment towards fighting cancer, in the State.
The State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Adaobi Oreh, gave the assurance in a special broadcast to commemorate the World Cancer Day held, yesterday.
She said,” I call on individuals, various stakeholders, interest groups and development partners to remain committed to the fight against cancer to achieve a cancer-free state”.
The theme for this year is “CLOSE THE CARE GAP,” and it focuses on a call for the commitment of key stakeholders and leaders to take action on preventing cancers she remarked.
Oreh noted that cancers are preventable and there is a global concerted effort to eliminate Cervical Cancer by 2030.
She added,” Indeed, most cancers can be prevented through behavioural and dietary changes, exercise, cessation of smoking cigarettes, vaccinations against infections like HPV and Hepatitis B, and screening for early detection of cancer”
According to her, report from cancer registries in Nigeria, indicate that the incidence of cancers in both sexes in 2020 was 124,815 with a mortality of 78,899.
She added that the prevalence of cancer in Nigeria for the past five years has risen with breast cancer being the commonest in women followed by cervical cancer.
Other common cancers, she disclosed, include Hodgkin’s- lymphoma, ovarian cancer, colorectum cancer and other cancers.
In men, prostate cancer is one of the commonest followed by liver cancer while the annual number of cancer cases in children aged 0-14 years for 2020 is 11,837.

Kevin Nengia